Machine for forming molds



March 11, 1952 R w, TACCONE MACH [NE FOR FORMING MOLDS 7 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1949 March 11, 1952 -R. w. TAccoNE MACHINE FOR FORMING MOLDS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1949 gym ATTORNEY MaICh 1952 R. w. TACCONE MACHINE FOR FORMING MOLDS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 9, 1949 VII all/1111i 5r iviv.

Ill/II Q IIIIIIIII/I/I I 0 50 4 ML g Inn lulhl l INVENTOR fl LSISZZJ m g' ATTORNEY March 11, 1952 R. w. TACCONE 2,588,669

MACHINE FOR FORMING MOLDS Filed May 9, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ll IIIIJ J INVENTOR $153544 I t ficcams' BY W67 ATTORNW March 1952 R. w. TACCONE MACHINE FOR FORMING MOLDS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 9, 1949 I1 711/4 VIII/A IIII INVENTOR 1? 6238564 Wjjccoy' ATTOR M816}! 1952 R. w. TACCONE MACHINE 'FOR FORMING MOLDS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 9, 1949 INVENTOR @5554; 172mm;

Wag W ATTO RN EY March 1952 R. w. TACCONE MACHINE FOR FORMING MOLDS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 9, 1949 INVENTOR fZzssa/Z 14/ 72c coA f ATTOIIQNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1952 MACHINE FOR FORMING MOLDS Russell W. Taccone, North East, Pa., assignor to Taccone Pneumatic Foundry Equipment Corporation, North East, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationMay 9, 1949, Serial No. 92,213

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to machines for making molds and more particularly to machines for packing sand in a flask and around the pattern or patterns therein to form a mold having sand of uniform texture.

In so called squeeze molding machines now in use, sand is placed in the flask and a piston forces it into the mold. It was found that where the sand is poured into the flask from an overhead hopper, it becomes packed at the point of pouring and thus comparatively hard. When the piston moves downwardly to pack the sand, it is retarded by the harder packed portion of the sand with the result that the remaining sand in the mold or flask is not uniform in texture and it is not firm. The resulting mold produces scaly castings in that much of the sand is not packed firmly. Where sand in a mold is packed too hard, it will cause a blow. It is, therefore, desirable to have a mold packed with sand of uniform texture and not too hard to provide a good casting. Air has also been utilized for blowing sand into the mold. It has been found that where patterns are used in a mold, the air does not have enough pressure to pack the sand around the patterns and the sides of the mold with the result that parts of the mold break away and much repair is required and maximum spoilage of castings results. It has been found that the only way that the sand could be packed around the patterns and the sides of the mold was the previous hand ramming method which is slow, tedious, and costly. Furthermore, hand ramming only permits an amount of pressure on the ram within the capabilities of the man using the rammer and great variations in the sand texture results from the different strengths of men. No machine has heretofore been utilized for ramming sand into a mold and around the patterns thereof. Furthermore, no machine has been provided which progressively provides sand for the mold box, disposes a pattern in the mold box, provides side rammers for ramming the sand around the sides of the flask or mold box, cuts off the sand even with the bottom of the flask or mold box, provides a bottom board underneath the flask or mold box after the sand is out, and provides rollers in alignment with a conveyor wherein the flask and bottom board may be moved along rollers adjacent to the machine thereby requiring no lifting thereof.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide a molding machine or a machine for forming a mold which overcomes the above and chines and it is more particularly an object of my invention to provide a machine for making molds which is simple in construction, economical in cost, economical in manufacture, and efiicient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for making a mold with means for packing the sand around the sides thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for making a mold which has a plunger operable independently of the side rammers for forcing sand into a flask or mold box.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for making molds which has a flexible obtruder and means for inflating the obtruder to force sand into and around the patterns in a mold box.

Another object of my invention is to provide a molding machine having a hopper for providing sand for the mold box or flask.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for ramming the sand into a fiask which has independently operated side rammers, a center rammer, and an obtruder.

Another object of my invention is to provide flexible means on one side of a mold box or flask for packing sand in a flask or mold box, particularly around the patterns therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a molding machine which operates in conjunction with a conveyor on opposite sides thereof to obviate the lifting of flasks, mold boxes and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for progressively cutting sand even with the bottom of a flask or mold box and disposing a bottom board beneath the flask on rollers in alignment with conveyors on opposite sides of the molding machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for forming a mold which packs the sand or molding agent so that the mold has an even and uniform texture.

Another object of my invention is to provide a molding machine having novel means of construction and arrangement of parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel control means for operating all of the parts of my novel molding machine by fluid pressure.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my novel molding machine in an inoperative position with the ends of the roller conveyors disposed on op-.

other defects of present day mold making maposite sides thereof:

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of my novel molding machine with the flask beneath the sand hopper in a position to receive sand therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of my novel moldin machine with the flask filled with sand moved to a forward position and with the patterns disposed in place in the upper side of the flask and with the flexible obtruder inflated to initially force the sand toward the side of the sand holding member;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of my novel molding machine with the side ramming member and center rammer in an engaged position and with the obtruder in an inflated position;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of my novel molding machine with the sand cutter in a forward position after cutting off the sand even with the bottom of the flask;

Fi 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view of my novel molding machine with the bottom board disposed beneath the flask and with the flask ready to be conveyed along the conveyors to the side of the machine after the removal of the patterns; and

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary plan view of the obtruder and plunger assembly in my novel molding machine.

Referring now to the drawings, I show a base I havin a frame 2 carried thereby with a, top table 3. Frames 5 carrying rollers 6 are disposed on opposite sides of the top table 3. The table 3 has an outwardly extending portion 4 on the front end thereof. Support columns 1 and 8 extend upwardly from each side of the base I and are connected to a cross member 9 with an overhanging head III. The support columns I and 8 are attached to the base I by screw bolts II. A sand hopper I2 is supported on the cross member Q by screw bolts I211. The head I has an aperture I3 in the upper side thereof for receiving an inverted cylinder I4 having an outwardly extending flange I5 for supporting the inverted cylindrical member I4 in the head I0. An upwardly extending inverted cylinder I6 having an outwardly flanged portion i1 is mounted on the upper end of the member I4 by screw bolts Ila, and a piston I8 with a piston rod I9 attached thereto movable therein. The piston rod I9 extends downwardly through the vertically extending aperture in the upper end of the member I4 and it is attached to the upper end of a piston 22 reciprocable in the inverted cylinder I4. An aperture 23 is provided in the flanged portion ii of the member I6 and is connected in fluid flow relationship with pipe line 24 and valve I49 to move the piston I8 and piston rod I9 upwardly in the member I6 thereby moving piston 22 upwardly. A grooved portion 25 for suitable packing is provided in the upper end of the cylindrical member [4 to sealingly engage the piston rod 19. An aperture 25 is disposed in the upper end of the member I4 for fluid flow connection to a pipe line 21 and valve I40 leading to a source of fluid. The fluid passing through the aperture 26 causes. the piston 22' to move downwardly thereby moving a pattern or patterns 23 on plate 29 downwardly therewith. The piston 22 moves through an aperture 30 in the lower portion of the head H). The head ID also has a vertically extending aperture 32 for guiding a vertical guide shaft 33' which is formed integral with the upper side of the plate 29 to 4 steady the plate 29, to decrease vibration thereof, and to prevent any rotation thereof.

A slidable frame member 35 having a central aperture 36 for receiving sand is slidably mounted on the table 3 and is adapted to be moved on the table 3 into registered vertical alignment with the bottom of the sand hopper I2 and the plate 29 alternately. A piston rod 37 is attached to one side of the frame member 35 by a pin 38 and the other end thereof is attached to a piston 33 movable in a cylinder 40 and supported on the outwardly extending portion 4 of the table 3. The cylindrical member 48 has a leg 4| with an aperture 42 leading to one end of the cylinder 45 which is in fluid flow relationship with pipe line 43 and valve 47 for receiving fluid under pressure to force the piston 39 to the right in the cylinder 48. The end 4d of the cylinder 40 has an axially extending aperture 45 in fluid flow relationship with pipe 46 and valve 41 for moving the piston 39 to the left in cylinder 40. The valve 41 is in fluid flow relationship with a pipe 48 leading to a source of fluid and has a handle 4d for alternately opening the pipes 43 and 45 respectively to the flow of fluid for forcing the piston in a right hand or a left hand direction thereby moving the frame member 35 therewith.

A bracket 5! extends outwardly from the frame member 35 carrying opposed rollers 52 for supporting a bottom board 53 for a molding flask or box 54. A vertically extending cylindrical chamber 55 in the member 35 has a piston 56 movable therein having an outwardly extending rod 51 connected thereto which extends upwardly through the aperture 58 in the member 35. A spring 59 urges the piston 55 and rod 51 downwardly and an aperture 50 leading to the bottom side of the cylindrical chamber 55 in the member 35 is in fluid flow relationship with pipe line 62 which in turn is connected to a valve 63 for providing fluid under pressure for forcing the piston 53 and rod 5? upwardly in the cylindrical chamber 55 of the member 35. When the rod 51 is in an upward position as shown in Fig. 5 it provides a stop for one side of the flask 54 to maintain it in a predetermined position in rela- ;ion to the patterns 23 depending from the plate Extending outwardly from the opposite side of the frame member 35 is a cylinder 64 having a piston 55 movable therein. The cylinder 64 has apertures 66 and 57 in opposite ends thereof which are in fluid flow relationship with hose lines 58 and 69 respectively. The hose lines 68 and 59 in turn are connected to a valve ill which has a handle I! for alternately providing a source of fluid under pressure through the apertures and 6? to force the piston 65 in a right hand end 11 and an aperture 78. The purpose of the cutting member 18 will be hereinafter described. A box-shaped abutting member 85 is disposed on the upper side of the cutting member 16 and it has an outwardly extending, downwardly flanged portion 82 for engaging one side of the flask 54 for moving it to a position from underneath the sand hopper I2 to a position underneath the patterns 28 and plate 29 as shown in Fig. 5 and for abutting one side of the flask 54. The abutting member has a cylindrical portion 83 for receiving a piston 84 having an upwardly extending guiding rod 85 movable in an aperture 86 in the upper side of the abutting member 88 and a downwardly extending rod 8'! which extends through the aperture I8 in the cutting member I6 and an aperture 88 in an extension 89 integral with the upper side of the frame member 35. Apertures 98 and 9I leading to opposite ends of the cylindrical portion 83 in the abutting member 88 are in fluid flow relationship with hose lines 93 and 94 which are in turn connected to a valve 95 with a handle 96 for alternately providing a source of fluid under pressure through the apertures 98 and 9| respectively to move the piston 84 and rods 85 and 8'! connected thereto upwardly and downwardly selectively. An extension 92 on the lower portion of the member 35 is also provided to engage the rollers 6.

A vertically extending, apertured portion I88 is provided in the frame 2 for receiving a rectangular shaped, reciprocating, side ramming member NH. The side ramming member I8I may have different sides thereof move independently but I prefer to make it rectangular in shape as shown particularly in Fig. 7. The side ramming member I8I has open, depending, inverted, cylindrical portions I83 for receiving piston shafts I84 having suitable grooves I85 for piston rings or the like and having an axially extending aperture I86 in fluid flow relationship with a pipe line I8! and aperture I88 in the base I, a pipe I89a and a valve I89 with a handle III! for providing fluid under pressure through the axially extending aperture I86 to move the ramming member I8! upwardly. The upper ends I82 of the ramming member I8I are concave in order to better pack the sand when it is moved upwardly which will be hereinafter described. The upwardly extending, oppositely disposed shafts I84 are supported and are integral with an inverted cylindrical plunger H3 with a cup-shaped head I23 telescopically disposed on an upwardly extending support shaft II4 mounted on the base I having suitable grooves II5 for piston rings or the like and having an aperture H6 in the upper end thereof in fluid flow relationship with a pipe line III, an aperture H8 in the base I, a pipe line I I9, and a valve I28 having a handle I2I whereby fluid under pressure is provided to force said plunger upwardly along with said side shafts I84 supporting and moving said ramming member IN. The cup-shaped head I23 on the plunger IE3 has supported marginally by cementing or any other suitable means a flat flexible obtruding member I25, preferably made from a tough rubber or rubber composition. A clamping ring I22 is provided to secure the marginal edges of the obtruder I25 on the margin of the cup-shaped head I23. An aperture I26 is provided in the cup-shaped head I23 and is in fluid flow relationship with a hose I21, aperture I28 in the base I, pipe line I29, and valve I38 with handle I3! to provide a source of fluid from the pipe line I32 to inflate the flexible member I25 upwardly as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Suitable, automatically operated pressure adjusting devices I33, I34, and I35 are disposed in the pipe lines II9, I89a, and I29 to automatically control the pressure of-the fluid for operating the ramming member I8I, the plunger H3, and the obtruder I25 thereby automatically regulating the pressure exerted by these members to regulate the hardness of the sand in the mold.

Fig. 1 shows conveying platforms I58 and I5I disposed on opposite sides of the base I and in alignment with the pattern plate 29 and the pat--' terns 28 supported thereby. The conveyor plat forms I58 and I5I. are supported by columns I52 and I53 and haved spaced, transversely extending rollers I54 for conveying the flasks 54 to a position underneath the plate 29 and after the mold is completed, away from the plate 29. The outwardly flanged upper ends I68 of the flasks 54 preferably have upwardly extending tapered guiding pins I SI for extending into guiding apertures I'82 in the plate 29 mounting the patterns 28.

In the operation of my novel device for ramming sand into a mold, a flask or mold box 54 is first passed along the conveyor I58 to a position underneath the plate 29 as shown in Fig. 1. The pin 51 is then moved upwardly by operation of the valve 63 to force the piston 56 upwardly in the cylindrical chamber 55 in the member 35 to dispose the pin 51 in a position extending outwardly from the upper face of the member 35 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The member 35 is then moved rearwardly by operation of the valve handle 49 to provide a source of fluid under pressure through the pipe line 46 and through the aperture 45 in one end of the cylinder 48 to force the piston 39 and rod 3'! to the left whereby the member 35 is moved therewith. The aperture 36 in the member 35 and flask 54 in vertical alignment therewith are then filled with sand and moved to a position underneath the plate 29 as shown in Fig. 3 by operation of the handle 49 of the valve 4'! in a reverse direction thereby causing the piston 39 to move to the right in the cylinder 48 through a source of pressure applied thereto through the aperture 42, pipe line 43, valve 41, and pipe line 48 leading to the source of fluid. The movement of the piston 39 to the right in the cylinder 48 causes the piston rod 31 and the aperture 36 in the member 35 movable therewith to move to a position underneath the plate 29 as shown in Fig. 3. When the member 35 moves to the left to a position underneath the hopper I2, the upwardly extending pin 5! abuts against the side of the flask 54 to move it with the member 35 and against the depending flanged portion 82 of the abutting member 88 whereby it is aligned with the bottom of the sand hopper I 2. When the aperture 36 in the member 35 is moved to the right to a position in vertical alignment with the plate 29, the flanged portion 82 of the abutting member 88 bears against the side of the flask 54 to move it along with the member 35 to a position underneath the plate 29 and in vertical alignment therewith. The flask 54 is held between the abutting portion 82 of the member 88 and the upwardly projecting pin 51 to prevent any lateral movement thereof when sand is being rammed therein. The plate 29 with patterns 28 is then moved downwardly into engagement with the top of the flask 54 by providing a source of pressure through the valve I48 which provides a source of fluid under pressure through the hose line 21 and aperture 26 in the member I4 to force the piston 22 and plate 29 downwardly into engagement with the top of the flask 54 as shown in Fig. 3. The handle I2I of valve I28 is then actuated to supply a source of fluid to force the plunger I I3 upwardly through pipe I I9, aperture II8, pipe Ill, and aperture I I 8 thereby causing the cup-shaped head I23 on the plunger H3, the shafts I84, and ramming member I8I upwardly into the aperture 36 in the. member 35 to .force thesand therein u'pwardly into the flask 54 and into engagement with the patterns 28 on the plate 29. I have found that it is advantageous to first inflate the obtruder 125 as shown in Fig. 3 before the movement of the plunger 1 3 to force sand against the sides of the aperture 36' in the member 35 in the path of the upward movement of the ramming member I01. After the cup-shaped head. i23- of. the plunger H3 moves upwardly alongwith the ramming. member into the aperture 36 in the member 35 a predetermined distance, fluid under pressure is provided through the longitudinally extending apertures Hi6 in the shafts It, hose H11, aperture I08, pipe lilSa, and valve [03 causing the side rammer Hlt to moveupward ly independent of the plunger 1 3 to securely pack the sand around the sides of the flask 54 and the outer sides of the patterns 28. If the obtruder I is not already inflated, or when it is initially inflated and deflated, the handle I3! on valve I is then actuated to provide a source of fluid under pressure through the aperture I26 in the plunger head I23, hose I27, aperture 128, and pipe I29 causing the obtruding member I25 to inflatethereby further compressing the sand in the flask 54. Inasmuch as the obtruding member E25 is flexible, in that it is ordinarily made of a tough rubber or a rubber composition, different portions of the surface thereof will extend irregularly outwardly where there is less resistance such as at a point-where there is no pattern extending downwardly as shown in Fig. 4. The sand is therefore" compressed between the patterns and around the sides and ends thereof in an amount equal to the compression of the sand at any other portion of the mold. I therefore provide a very compact, well packed mold impossible to form by a manual means such as a hand rammer. The handle 95 on the valve 95 is then actuated to move the piston 85 in the cylindrical chamber 83 of the abutting member 80 upwardly thereby moving the pin 8'! depending therefrom out of engagement with the aperture 88 in the extension 89 and the aperture 18" in the cutting member 16. The cutting member Hi will be now free to move to the right and handle H of valve 10 is actuated to provide a source of fluid under pressure through the aperture 65 in the cylinder 6 thereby forcing the piston 65 and attached connecting rod 13; bracket 15, and cutting member IS to the right. The cutting edge ll of the cutting member 1'6 will cut oii the sand evenly with the bottom of the flask 54' and it will move to a position as shown in Fig. 5. The handle H on valve is is again actuated to reverse the movement of the cutter T6, the pin 8-! dropping into the aperture 18' therein and the aperture 88 in the extension 89 to lock the abutting member 80 with the extension 89 for movement therewith. The obtruding member (25, the plunger l l3, and the ramming member lfil are returned to their original position by operation of the handles I31, H0, and iii of the valves I39, I09, and I20 respectively. These valves cut off the pressure and permit an exhaust of the fluid therethrough. The member is then moved to the left to a position with the aperture 36 therein underneath the sand hopper i2 as shown in Fig. 2, by the operation of the handle 49 of the valve 4 1 to provide a source of fluid under pressure through the aperture in the end 44 of the cylinder 40 to force the piston 39, piston rod 31, and member 35 to the left. as the member 35 is moved to the left, the bottom board '53 on the rollers 52' moves underneath the flask 54. The patterns 8 28 are then moved upwardly by operation of the valve 140 which provides a source of fluid under pressure through the aperture 23 to force the piston IS in the cylindrical member l6 upwardly thereby raising the plate 29 with the patterns 28- out of engagement with the flask 54' and the molding sand therein. Inasmuch as the rollers 52 are now in alignment with the rollers I54 on the conveyor members 150 and i5l, the flask or mold box 54 is pushed-therealong resting on the bottom board 53 out of alignment with the plate 2'9 and an empty flask is moved therebeneath from the conveying member 150 after the aperture 36 in the member 35 is moved back to a position underneath the plate 29 as had types of control valves may be devised to provide for progressive operation of several of the steps automatically or a single conventional hand operated valve controlling more than two of the lines may be used.

It will be evident from the foregoing. description that I have provided a novel machine for making molds which requires no lifting of any of the mold boxes, which has novel means for filling a mold box, which produces a completed mold in a minimum of time, which firmly packs the mold around the edges and sides thereof, which provides obtruding means for compressing the sand evenly around patterns and in all other parts of a mold, which has novel means for outting off the sand on the bottom of the mold,

which has novel means for disposing a bottom board underneath the flask, which has novel conveying means for moving the mold box to and from my novel machine with a minimum of pushing and with no lifting, generally to provide a machine which provides a mold with a uniform texture. Although I have shown the patterns projecting into one side of a mold box thereby only making one-half of a mold, I can just as easily form a whole mold with my machine.

' Furthermore, I can dispose an obtruder on both sides of a flask in certain situations where this is desired. Throughout the specification, I have described the molding agent as sand but it should be understood that when I use the word sand, I mean any molding agent which is suitable for making a mold.

My novel machine may be used for blowingcores by merely utilizing the obtruder to force the sand into a core box and cutting off the core.

Various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim" is:

l. A molding machine for forming a mold in a mold box comprising a table, a slidable member on said table having an apertured portion for holding sand and for mounting a mold box thereon, an aligned spaced sand hopper and a pattern member disposed side by side above said slidable member and aligned with said transversely slidable member at different positions of said slidable member, means for moving said pattern member into engagement with a mold box mounted on said slidable member, means for moving said slidable member alternately with the apertured portion therein beneath said sand hopper and-beneath said pattern member, a

plunger movable into the apertured portion of said slidable member for ramming sand into said mold box, means for reciprocating said plunger, an expandible obtruding member on the end of said plunger, a source of air with connections therefrom to the top of said plunger for extending said obtruding member to pack the sand in said mold box, and an extension on said slidable member with spaced rollers for mounting a bottom board for a mold adapted to be moved underneath said mold box.

2. A molding machine for forming a mold in a mold box comprising a table, a slidable member on said table having an apertured sand containing portion and means on the upper side thereof for mounting a mold box, means for positioning said mold box on said slidable member, a sand hopper and a reciprocating pattern member disposed side by side above said slidable member and aligned withsaid transversely slidable member at different positions of said slidable member, means for moving the apertured portion of said slidable member beneath said sand hopper and said pattern member, means for moving said pattern member into engagement with the top of the mold box on said slidable member, a plunger movable upwardly through said apertured portion of said slidable member to ram sand into said mold box, upwardly extending, marginal ramming members around said plunger for ramming sand around the inner marginal sides of said mold box, a flexible obtruding member on the upper end of said plunger for packing sand into said mold box, means for reciprocating said plunger and ramming members, a source of compressed air and connections therefrom to the top of said plunger whereby said obtruding member may be extended after said plunger is operated, and an extension on said slidable member with rollers carrying a bottom board adapted to be moved underneath said mold box.

3. A molding machine for forming a mold in a mold box comprising a table, a transversely slidable member on said table having an apertured portion for receiving sand and for mounting a mold box, means for disposing a pattern in said mold box, a sand hopper disposed adjacent said pattern disposing means above said slidable member, means for reciprocating said slidable member to align said apertured member thereof and mold box alternately with said sand hopper and said pattern disposing means, a reciprocable plunger for moving into the apertured portion of said slidable member, an obtruding member on the engaging end of said plunger, means for reciprocating said plunger, a source of compressed air and connections therefrom to the top of said plunger whereby the obtruding member may be extended to pack sand in said mold box,

and an extension on said slidable member carrying rollers for mounting a bottom board for a mold adapted to be moved underneath said mold box when said plunger is removed from the apertured portion of said slidable member.

4. A molding machine for forming a mold in a mold box having an open top and bottom, said machine comprising a table, a slidable sand receiving member having an open top and bottom supported on said table, means for positioning and releasably retaining a mold box on said slidable sand receiving member as the latter is moved from one position to another, a sand hopper and a vertically reciprocable pattern support disposed above said slidable sand receiving member and said mold box and aligned with said slidable sand receiving member at difierent positions of said member, means for moving said slidable sand receiving member and said mold box mounted thereon as a unit along said table from a position underneath said sand hopper to a position underneath said pattern support, means for reciprocating said pattern support to position a pattern connected thereto in said mold box, a plunger in vertical alignment with said pattern support and movable upwardly in said slidable sand receiving member to ram sand into said mold box mounted on said slidable sand receiving member, means for reciprocating said plunger, means for releasing said mold box from said slidable sand receiving member and means for moving said slidable sand receiving member to a position underneath said sand hopper.

5. A molding machine according to claim 4, further characterized by a flexible obtruding member secured to the end of said plunger, and means for introducing fluid under pressure between said obtruding member and the end of said plunger for extending said obtruding member to pack the sand in said mold box.

6. A molding machine according to claim 5, further characterized by a marginal rammer disposed around said plunger, and means for independently operating said rammer to compress sand around the marginal inner sides of said mold box.

7. A molding machine for forming a mold in a mold box having an open top and bottom, said machine comprising a table, a slidable sand receiving member having an open top and bottom supported on said table, means for positioning and releasably retaining a mold box on said slidable sand receiving member as the latter is moved from one position to another, a sand hopper and a vertically reciprocable pattern support disposed above said slidable sand receiving member and said mold box and aligned with said slidable sand receiving member at difierent positions of said member, means for moving said slidable sand receiving member and said mold box mounted thereon as a unit along said table from a position underneath said sand hopper to a position underneath said pattern support, means for reciproeating said pattern support to position a pattern connected thereto in said mold box, a plunger in vertical alignment with said pattern support and movable upwardly in said slidable sand receiving member to ram sand into said mold box mounted on said slidable sand receiving member, means for reciprocating said plunger, means for releasing said mold box from said slidable sand receiving member, means for moving said slidable sand receiving member to a position underneath said sand hopper, and a cutting blade mounted for reciprocation between and relative to the top of said slidable sand receiving member and the bottom of said mold box.

8. A molding machine for forming a mold in a mold box having an open top and bottom, said machine comprising a table, a slidable sand receiving member having an open top and bottom supported on said table, means for positioning and releasably retaining a mold box on said slidable sand receiving member as the latter is moved from one position to another, a sand hopper and a vertically reciprocable pattern support disposed above said slidable sand receiving member and said mold box and aligned with said slidable sand receiving member at different positions of said member, means for moving said slidable sand.

receiving member and said mold box mounted thereon as a unit along said table from a position underneath said sand hopper to a position underneath said pattern support, means for reciprocating said pattern support to position a pattern connected thereto in said mold box, a plunger in vertical alignment with said pattern support and movable upwardly in said slidable sand receiving member to ram sand into said. mold box mounted on said slidable sand receiving member, means for reciprocating said plunger, means for re leasing said mold box from said slidable sand receiving member, means for moving said slidable sand receiving member to a position underneath said sand hopper, and an extension on said slidable sand receiving member on the side of said member farthest away from said sand hopper and adapted for mounting a bottom board for a mold, whereby said bottom board is moved underneath said mold box when said mold box and said slidable sand receiving member are released from each other and said slidable sand receiving memher is moved to a position beneath said sand box.

9. .A molding machine for forming a mold in a mold box havingan open top and bottom, said machine comprising a table, a slidable member on said table, having .an apertured portion for receiving sand and .for mounting a mold box thereon, an aligned, spaced sand hopper and a pattern support disposed above said slidable member and aligned with said slidable member at different positions of said slidable member, means for moving said pattern support to position a pattern connected thereto in said mold box mounted on said slidable member, means for moving said slidable member alternately with the apertured portion therein beneath said sand hopper and beneath said pattern member, said slidable member having a first extension for supporting a mold box abutting member and a second extension on the opposite side of said slidable member 'ior supporting a mold bottom board, a mold box abutting member upported on said slidable member and movable from a position over said first extension to a position over the aperture in said slidable member, means for releasably locking said abutting member in position over said first extension, 2, plunger in vertical alignment with said pattern support and movable upwardly in said slidable member to ram sand into said mold box mounted on said slidable member, and means for reciprocating said plunger, whereby a, mold bottom board mounted on said second extension is moved underneath said mold box when said abutting member is re-- leased from said first extension and said slidable member is moved to a position underneath said sand hopper.

RUSSELL W. TACCONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 318,784 Moore May 26, 1885 382,217 Davies May 1, 1888 408,386 Moore Aug. 6, 1889 450,521 Mistelski Apr. 14, 1891 706,487 Battenfeld Aug. 5, 1902 1,134,398 MoCarte Apr. 6, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,428 Great Britain of 1912 460,014 France Sept. 23, 1913 

